his partner could have
done likewise had they so desired. Later, while blasting in the
shaft, the partner lost his eyes, and had both arms and both legs,
as well as five ribs, broken. After this sad event, Mr. Dickerson,
who had meantime returned to Nebraska, ordered his quarter
interest to be sold, and the proceeds devoted to the needs of his
unfortunate friend and partner.
For about three years after his return to
Nebraska in 1881, Mr. Dickerson was engaged in a mercantile
business, which he then sold, and opened a furniture store. He
disposed of this in turn, and established a dray business, which
has prospered well, and in which he is a pioneer, as mentioned in
the first paragraph of this article.
Mr. Dickerson was married in Atkinson, June 21,
1882, to Miss Eva Davis, born near Mazeppa, Minnesota, daughter of
James and Anna (Lyman) Davis, who were early settlers of Nebraska,
reaching Holt county November 12, 1878, and settling on a ranch
three miles south of Atkinson. Nine children have been born of
this union, all of whom survive, and they are a family of whom any
parents might feel justifiably proud. Winnie, the eldest child, is
employed as clerk in a store at Atkinson; Ivan is an employe of
the First National Bank of O'Neill; Ray is employed in a hardware
store; Harold, Jane, Clara, Eva, Bernice and Hazel are all in
school. The children are unusually rugged and strong, and up to
the present time their parents have spent less than one hundred
dollars for medicines and doctors for all of them.
Politically, Mr. Dickerson is a staunch
republican. He became a member of the Masonic order at Atkinson,
and joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at O'Neill. He
also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern
Woodmen of America.
Few can recount a more striking personal
experience than he underwent during the three days blizzard of
October, 1880, in which his friend, Mr. Wolf, bore him company.
They had been trapping on the Big Sandy, and left their cabin to
go to the camp of a Mr. McElvaney, intending to join him in
bringing a yoke of oxen to O'Neill. As the day had been
comparatively warm, traveling was fairly comfortable, but while on
their way over the hills, the storm broke over their heads almost
with the unexpected suddenness of a thunder clap, and within a few
minutes the air became full of blinding snow. Panic overtook the
cattle, and Mr. McElvaney saw the futility of trying to make
further progress under such conditions, so he turned back with the
animals, and reached his camp safely. The others, however, pushed
on toward the north, while the storm was increasing in fury with
each moment, and the road was soon obliterated, so they decided to
turn back, as Mr. McElvaney had done, and followed their own trail
toward their starting point as best they might, but as they had
been on the road for several hours, it took a long time to grope
their way along in the teeth of the storm, and it seemed as if
they were trying to find their way in pitchy darkness. After
floundering for several hours though drifts and unfamiliar
landmark to them, and they knew it was bluffs, where a log lay
across a small stream, a familiar landmark to them, and they knew
it was but a short distance from their cabin, to which they made
their way. As they had left some provisions there, they
anticipated a warm supper, but were dismayed at finding their food
gone. They found out subsequently that a party of hungry hunters
had found shelter in the cabin, and, following the custom of the
country, had helped themselves to all they found, supposing the
owners were safe in town. It is hard to realize the pangs of
hunger and cold suffered by the two men who were shut up by the
blinding storm for the following three days, as they were without
either food or fire for that length of time, and ice dust
constantly sifted through the crevices in the loosely-built log
shack. On the morning of the third day, the storm showed signs of
abating, and, weak from hunger and cold, the two lonely men
started again on their long and weary journey across twenty miles
of drifted snow piled on the prairie between them and the town of
O'Neill. They grew so exhausted before they had completed their
long walk that they took turns resting and walking, one going
until he felt worn out, then sitting down to rest until joined by
his companion, when they would again plod on until forced to rest
again, letting his companion take his turn at resting, after which
the latter would eventually pass him in turn. Thus staggering on
and resting by turn, they were met by Mr. McElvaney, who had
reached the town with the oxen on the second day, and not finding
his friends, had started back to look for them, keeping his fears
for their safety to himself, however. He was tortured with
conjectures as to their probable fate, and kept his watch to the
north, so that as soon as the snow had ceased falling he started
to seek them, and was overjoyed at seeing the two struggling
forms, and to recognize them. Upon reaching the little town, Mr.
Dickerson and his companion found that nothing was considered too
good for them, as soon as their sufferings and the hardships
through which they had just passed became known. It was an
experience which would have worn out most men beyond their powers
of endurance.
Mr. Dickerson was also out in the blizzard of
January 12, 1888, for a time. He and a cousin had gone south of
the town for a load of hay, and were returning with it when the
storm struck them, three and a half miles from home. The. cousin,
a tenderfoot in the country, wanted to go under the wagon and wait
until the flurry was over, but Mr. Dickerson knew better what to
expect. The first blast overturned their load, and left them
floundering under part of the hay.

COMPENDIUM OF
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249

Mr.
Dickerson unhitched the team, and led the horses home, keeping his
eyes on the ground at every step in order to be able to see
something of the road if possible. Although severely frosted, they
reached home in safety. In early days, Mr. Dickerson often had to
fight prairie fires, an experience which he had also met in
boyhood while living in Wisconsin.
The worst hailstorm he has known in the west
killed thousands of birds in the trees near O'Neill, at the same
time taking the bark off the north sides of many of the trees, a
great number of which were thus killed. He lived in a log house
for a time after occupying his claim, and his wife's family also
lived in a log shack until they had time to erect a larger and
more comfortable dwelling, which was also of logs. They burned hay
for a time, as coal was too expensive and hard to procure, and
wood too scarce, even along the streams. In early days, Mr.
Dickerson shot antelope on the present site of O'Neill, but the
bigger game hid already been driven westward to the mountains.
There were a few deer, which, however, were not so plentiful as
antelope, and one lone buffalo was seen by the early settlers in
that region, though not by Mr. Dickerson. Mr. Dickerson knew most
of the notable characters of his part of the state in the early
days, among them being ''Kid" Wade, "Jack'' Nolan, "Limber Dick,"
"Black Bill'' and "Doc" Middleton, and he is one of the posse that
finally captured the list named. He relates some very interesting
incidents in connection with this event. After his release, Doc
Middleton returned to Atkinson, and Mr. Dickerson, who had married
during the interim and was engaged in the furniture business, took
him home to dine with his family, afterwards introducing him to
many of the townspeople, most of them newcomers, who had great
curiosity as to the identity of the stranger.
In concluding this article, we may say that no
man in Atkinson is held in higher estimation by his fellows than
Mr. Dickerson, and a man who has reared so large and creditable a
family as he (with the assistance of his excellent and able wife
and helpmate) is a blessing to his state and nation. Honest,
industrious and energetic, he has been an inspiring example to all
young men who have entered the business field in his
locality.

JAMES WORDEN.

James
Worden, one of the old-time farmers and stockmen of Boone county,
Nebraska, has, since settling here in the early days, been engaged
in various business enterprises, and is today recognized as a
leading citizen and prosperous resident of Petersburg.
Mr. Worden was born in Grant county, Wisconsin,
on August 20, 1864, and was the youngest of two boys and three
girls in the family of B. A. and Esther P. Worden. The father was
born in New York state, and came to Boone county in company with
Ira Whipple in the spring of 1872, traveling by team and wagon
overland to look the country over. In the fall of the same year,
he returned to Wisconsin and the following spring brought his
entire family to Boone county, they also coming by wagon through
the country. The father homesteaded immediately, and later two
sons and one daughter also filed on homesteads. The parents are
now living in Oregon, where they went for residence in 1894, and
one son, Charles, and a daughter, also made that state their
permanent home.
At the time of coming to Boone county, James
Worden was nine years of age, and his early education was received
in the country schools here. At the age of twenty, he began for
himself, purchasing a farm in 1885, situated about a mile and a
half northwest of Petersburg, and resided there up to 1893. He
followed mixed farming and stock raising, and achieved
considerable success in both enterprises during his residence
there.
In 1894, Mr. Worden went to Illinois, purchasing
a farm near Ashley, which he carried on for about one year, then
returned to Boone county and was connected with different business
enterprises. For six years he was with T. H. Sturdevant in the
lumber and grain business, and afterwards started a livery and
sales stable, which he carried on to October, 1910, when he sold.
On his well improved farm he has one of the finest orchards in the
county, raising annually over one thousand bushels of fruit.
Mr. Worden was married on February 16, 1884, to
Miss Edith Ganiard, who comes of a prominent pioneer Boone county
family. They have two children, Grace, who is a popular teacher in
the public schools of Petersburg, and Fay, also living at
home.
Mr. Worden is a truly self-made man, and is held
in the highest esteem in his locality. He has always been
prominent in political affairs in his county and state, and has
held different public offices, serving as assessor of Oakland
precinct and has been president of the school board of Petersburg
for a number of years. In the year 1910 he served as census
enumerator for the United States census taken that
year.

DOCTOR A.
JONES.

Mr. Doctor
A. Jones, a prosperous retired farmer now residing in Wayne, is
the seventh son in a family of eight sons and two daughters born
to his parents; and in view of the supposed healing qualities of
the seventh son he was baptized Doctor Albert Jones. His parents,
Henry and Elizabeth (Hicks) Jones, were natives of Maryland and
Ohio respectively; the former died in 1906, the latter about
1868.
Mr. Jones was born in Clermont county,
Ohio,

250

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

January 25, 1858, and
there reared. At the age of twenty, he went to Texas and for two
years was employed on the ranch of Atterburg Brothers, riding the
range as a cowboy in Texas and Oklahoma for two years. Coming to
Mills county, Iowa, for a time he was employed at farm labor and
then rented land and farmed for a year or two prior to his moving
to Nebraska in 1889. He purchased a half-section three miles west
of Wayne, and lived here nearly twenty years, making farming a
very successful vocation.
In 1908, he purchased a fine dwelling adjoining
Court Square in the city of Wayne, and gives his personal
attention to his farming interests near the city.
Mr. Jones was married in Mills county, Iowa,
June 16, 1880, to Miss Lucy E. Strahan, who was born in Henderson
county, Illinois. Her parents, J. M. and Frances (Davis) Strahan
moved to eastern Iowa in 1865, and later on out to Mills county,
where she and Mr. Jones met. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Jones, all are living; they are: Marcellus F., who is running the
home farm; Gale, who is the wife of George Sherbohrn, resides in
Wayne; Jay , is farming four miles west of Wayne; Roscoe returned
to the former residence of the family in Mills county, Iowa, and
engages in farming there; Albert, who is an expert motorist, acts
as his father's chauffeur in his business trips through the
country; and Dorothy, the youngest, is still in school.
Deer and antelope were extinct in the region
when Mr. Jones came to Wayne county, but they were plentiful in
Texas when he was employed there on the ranch. Much of the country
throughout northeastern Nebraska was open prairie at the time Mr.
Jones settled, here. In the period he has been a resident of the
cornhusker's state, he has seen all this change-where was once
open country covered with waving prairie grasses, are now to be
seen highly tilled farms, miles of trees, substantial and elegant
farm dwellings; big red barns, sheds, stacks of grain, and herds
of cattle and horses; a country teeming with wealth and enjoying a
prosperity that few sections can equal anywhere within the
national domain.
Mr. Jones is a democrat, and represented his
county in the legislature during the years 1896, 1897 and 1898. He
is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Eagle
lodges.

CARL LUEDEKE.

One of the
earliest settlers of Staunton county, as well as one of the most
successful retired farmers of that locality, is Carl Luedeke, who
is now enjoying a well-earned life of comfort and ease in his
quiet home in Staunton. His portrait will be found on another page
of this volume.
Mr. Luedeke was born in the village of Schwedt
am Oder, province of Brandenburg, Prussia, on April 24, 1844, and
lived in this little village for twenty-five years. His parents,
Christian and Louisa (Biljet) Luedeke, lived out their days in
their native land. Mr. Luedeke served in the military of the
Emperor of Germany from June 12, 1866 to 1868.
Mr. Luedeke came to America in 1869, sailing
from Hamburg on the 24th of May in the "Westphalia." The vessel
ran into hidden rocks near the coast, necessitating a return to
Havre, where the vessel was placed in dry-dock for repairs. Mr.
Luedeke finally reached New York City on June 4, proceeding
further west by rail to Fremont, via Omaha. From here he went with
a farmer to Rock Creek, Cuming county, which at that time was
considered quite a city.
After working by the month for Mr. Newman for a
year, he filed on a homestead about sixteen miles west of West
Point, and for thirteen years this was his home. After making many
improvements on the place, he sold the farm in 1883, and purchased
a quarter-section about nine miles south and west of Pilger, in
Staunton county, to which he later added an adjoining tract of one
hundred and twenty acres. By the exercise of thrift and industry,
Mr. Luedeke accumulated farm after farm, until at the time of his
retirement from active life, in December, 1903, he owned five
hundred acres in Staunton county. He has since sold a quarter
section and purchased two hundred and forty acres near Orchard,
Antelope county, on which his son Emil resides.
Mr. Luedeke was married in Schwedt am Oder on
the 14th of April, 1869, to Miss Henrietta Fuener, a native of the
same province. They were married just ten days before they sailed
for America, the voyage making a most eventful wedding journey.
Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Luedeke, six of whom
are living: Carl, Herman, Flora (now Mrs. Fred Kassebaum), Otto,
Emil, and Hattie, now Mrs. William Wagner.
Mr. Luedeke is a staunch democrat, and he is
also a member of the Sons of Herman, as well as the German Singing
Society of Staunton.
Mr. Luedeke has his full share of pioneer
experiences. He occupied in succession all the different kinds of
dwellings used by the settlers in this region. His first home was
a dug-out in which his family lived during the first summer, until
a log house could be built. Although this had a dirt floor, they
lived there for several years until the third dwelling, (also a
log house) was erected. This had a floor of rough cottonwood
boards, hauled from the mill at Rock Creek. Later, a fine frame
house was built, which is Mr. Luedeke's home at the present
time.
Like other pioneers, he suffered many
discouragements. From 1873 to 1877, the grasshoppers did more or
less damage to all his crops, and in 1874, they took everything.
Prairie fires

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

251

often threatened,
destruction, and during his first season on the farm, his granary
was struck by lightning and burned. it was only a small structure,
but its destruction was at that time a great loss to Mr.
Luedeke.
The great blizzards, which sometimes raged for
days, were also perils to be taken into consideration. For the
most part, the settlers relied upon the cottonwood trees growing
in the river bottoms for their fuel, but if the supply ran low, it
was not uncommon for them to burn corn instead. Many of them
lacked money to buy coffee, and were forced to use instead parched
wheat, rye, and barley.
Mr. Luedeke is recognized as one of the
prominent citizens of the county, and during his long residence
here has gained the confidence and esteem of a large circle of
acquaintances.

Carl
Luedeke.

PAUL HOPPEN.
(Deceased.)

The
gentleman named here was an old settler in the eastern part of
Nebraska, and was well and favorably known.
Paul Hoppen was born in Colnam-on-Rhine,
Germany, December 4, 1846, and was the eldest of four children,
having two sisters and one brother. One sister is living in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the other in New York, and the brother in
Sidney, Nebraska.
Mr. Hoppen came to America in the latter sixties
settled in the state of Wisconsin, and engaged in the
manufacturing of wagons. In 1870 our subject came to Columbus,
Nebraska, and went into the hotel business.
On February 28, 1874, Mr. Hoppen was joined in
holy wedlock to Mrs. Catherine Wellman, who was born in Germany
and came to America in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Hoppen were blessed with
seven children, whose names are as follows: Edward, deceased
February 21, 1908, survived by a wife and one child living in
Columbus, Nebraska; William, deceased in 1878; Anna P., married to
Jasper Nichols, who have two children and live in Columbus,
Nebraska ; William L., deceased in 1888; Emma H., who resides at
home; Marie, deceased in 1887; and Paul H., who lives at home.
Mr. Hoppen homesteaded one hundred and sixty
acres of land on Shell creek and purchased forty acres adjoining.
He died November 1, 1900, at his home in Columbus, Nebraska,
survived by his wife and four children.
Mrs. Hoppen's father died in 1867, in Germany,
and her mother died in 1895, in the state of Nebraska. She has one
sister, Mrs. L. Schwarz who lives in Columbus, Nebraska ; one
brother, who resides in Platte county, and another sister,
deceased.
Mrs. Hoppen is still living in the old home in
Columbus, Nebraska, surrounded by a large circle of friends. Her
husband was one of the earlier settlers of Platte county and was
widely and favorably known.

PRESCOTT
HEMENWAY.

Prescott
Hemenway, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in
Antelope county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality
for over forty-one years. He is prominently known throughout the
northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and
stock men of Nebraska, and after many years of hard labor in
building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining
years of his life in peace and comfort surrounded by a host of
good friends and acquaintances. Not being content to sit idly by,
Mr. Hemenway still looks after his farm and business.
Mr. Hemenway is a native of Wayne township,
Dupage county, Illinois, born April 4, 1849. His father, Charles
E. Hemenway died in 1893 at the age of seventy-six years. His
grandfather and uncle fought in the revolutionary war. Our
subject's mother, Lucy (Fay) Hemenway, was born in the state of
Massachusetts in July, 1820, and died in 1864.
In 1870 Mr. Hemenway started for the west, went
to Fremont, Nebraska, in March, 1870 and from there drove to the
place which he homesteaded September 13, 1870, in section
twenty-three, township twenty-six, range eight, Norfolk being the
nearest postoffice, fifty miles away. Mr. Hemenway built a dug-out
on this land in which he lived for one year, then built a log
house in which he lived and "batched it." Later he took a timber
claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Blaine township, December
21, 1872. In those early days many hardships were experienced, and
in 1873 the grasshopper raid did great damage, destroying all the
crops, and also again in 1876, which proved a hard blow for a
young man starting in life. But he held on, stuck to his land and
persevered, and has since prospered to an extent which has amassed
a competency for him, placed him among the most solid and
substantial of Nebraska's citizens.
Mr. Hemenway was united in marriage in Elgin,
Illinois, March 6, 1875, to Miss Maria Switzer, and Mr. and Mrs.
Hemenway are the parents of six children, whose names are as
follows: Herbert; Ray; Viola, wife of Mr. C. Rogers, she has one
child and lives in Blain township; Byron; Hettie; and Mark.
Mr. Hemenway, as before stated, is one of the
foremost farmers and stock men of the state of Nebraska, and owns
a fine estate of seventeen hundred acres of land. He has ten acres
of beautiful grove, also a fine orchard. Mr. Hemenway is a
republican, and is a member of the Odd Fellows and A. O. U. W.
Mrs. Hemenway and daughter Hettie are members of
the Degree of Honor.

252

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

K. W.
MCDONALD.

The
McDonalds, descendants of the hardy highlanders of Scotland, are a
long-lived race. The three brothers, Captain C. F., Captain
William and Lieutenant James V., were early settlers in Nebraska,
coming betimes in the years 1876 and 1884. They are natives of
Smyth county, Virginia, where the family had resided for three or
four generations, their plantations aggregating some fifteen
hundred acres which were cultivated by their slaves prior to the
war.
The eldest, Captain C. F. McDonald, a veteran of
the confederate army, was born December 27, 1824. He lived
continuously in his native state until he came west, and was
occupied as a farmer, drover, and hotel keeper. He had seen the
coming conflict and had raised a company that was mustered into
the confederate service the day of the firing on Fort Sumpter, and
served until the surrender of Lee. In 1883, Captain C. F. came to
Staunton county, Nebraska, and April 5, 1884, arrived in Pierce
county. He has lived in Pierce City since November 5, 1884, and
has served his adopted home well in the capacity of constable,
deputy sheriff, and town marshal, and has held the office of
justice of the peace for eighteen years.
The second, Captain William McDonald, was with
the argonauts crossing the plains in 1849, remaining on the
Pacific coast three years, and then returned by way of Panama and
New York. Raising a company on the outbreak of the civil war, he
served until the last day in a Virginia regiment. In 1876 he came
to Staunton county, Nebraska, and later to Pierce county, which he
served some fifteen years as county judge. His death occurred in
March, 1907, at the age of seventy-eight years.
The third, James V. McDonald, resident of Pierce
county, Nebraska, was born November 30, 1833, and from a slave on
his father's plantation learned blacksmithing and grew to be one
of the most expert horse-shoers in that region. He could turn
twenty-four shoes, make the one hundred and ninety-two nails
needed, and set them on the hoofs in a day, and could make by hand
two nails at one heat. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E,
Derrick's Infantry, Floyd's brigade, serving as lieutenant, and
the year following was transferred to Company E, Johnson's Cavalry
Brigade, in which he served until the close of the war, being at
Lynchburg when he heard of Lee's surrender. He served as second
lieutenant in the quartermaster's department most of the time.
Of the fourteen children born to the parents of
the above three subjects three sons and seven daughters lived to
maturity and raised families. The father, Solomon McDonald, who
died December 14, 1811, at the age of fifty-eight years, was a son
of Columbus McDonald. The mother, Nancy A. (Cox) McDonald, was a
daughter of William and Hannah (Lamma) Cox, both natives of
Virginia.
James V. McDonald was married August 27, 1857,
in Bristol, Tennessee, to Miss Emeline A. Gannaway, a native of
Smyth county Virginia. Of twelve children born to them, eight
reached maturity: J. Beauregard McDonald, county clerk of Pierce
county; Robert F., drowned at Pierce; Charles T., contractor and
builder, of Pierce; George E., who died in 1892; Stella, wife of
E. S. Glaze, of Pierce; Kenneth Wilton, attorney-at-law, of
Plainview; Grundy E., prominent physician of Wyoming; Solomon R.,
employed in the office of the superintendent of the Rock Island
railroad, at Fairbury, Nebraska.
Kenneth W. McDonald, our subject, was born in
Smyth county, Virginia, January 18, 1874, of a third generation
born in the same house. He is a son of James V. and Emeline A.
(Gannaway) McDonald. The mother is a daughter of John and Kizziah
(Barringer) Gannaway, the latter a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth
(Strafer) Gannaway. The paternal grandparents were William and
Elizabeth (Wright) Gannaway, all of whom were natives of Virginia.
Mrs. McDonald is a cousin of William Gannaway Brownlee, famous
during the civil war under the name of "Parson Brownlee," as the
"fighting parson," and later Governor of Tennessee, and for years
was editor of the "Knoxville Whig." Orphaned at an early age, he
was reared in the family with Mrs. McDonald.
Kenneth W. McDonald attended school three years
in his native state and graduated in the Pierce schools in 1892;
read law in the office of his present partner, Fred H. Free, and
was admitted to the bar of the state of Nebraska in November,
1906.
The McDonalds are all staunch democrats, and
several members of the family have held office in the county by
the favor of that oldest political organization.

JOHN S. SCHOW.

John S.
Schow, a farmer of ability and progressiveness, resides in
Fairdale precinct, and is one of the respected citizens of Howard
county. He has succeeded through many difficulties in building up
a good farm and home, and may be classed among the self-made men
of that locality, being now well-to-do and enjoying a comfortable
home and pleasant surroundings.
Mr. Schow was born in Denmark, June 11, 1848,
and was the fifth in a family of six children born to his parents,
Seren and Catherine Schow. When he was nine years old the family
came to America, their first location being Iowa City. Iowa. After
a short stay in that vicinity they packed their belongings in
wagons and started to make the trip overland to Salt Lake City,
Utah, leaving Iowa City about June 1st, and landing

COMPENDIUM OF
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253

in Utah August 15,
1857. In the party going to Utah were, about six hundred people,
the wagon train being composed of sixty-six wagons and sixty-three
vehicles which were called "handcars," and were propelled by hand
power. After an eventful journey, tedious and discouraging
experiences, they arrived at their destination, the Schow family
locating at Spanish Forks, Utah, where they spent four years,
engaged in farming. From there they went to Camp Floyd, which was
the first soldiers' fort in Utah, and they made that their home
for two years, following both farming and freighting, also herding
stock on the plains, etc. These were really the pioneer days in
Utah, and it is an interesting tale to listen to Mr. Schow's
recital of the adventures they met with in those times. While
living there, they were practically forced to remain cut off from
all outside communication, as there were no regular trains or mode
of travel excepting by wagon, etc.
In 1864 Seren Schow and his family, consisting
of himself, wife, our subject and another son, started for
Nebraska, making this trip also by wagon drawn by one horse and an
ox team. They were accompanied by three other families and their
wagon teams, and during this trip they came upon a number of wagon
parties who had been left stranded on the plains by Indians who
had taken their horses and other stock which they were driving to
new locations. Our subject and his family moved in Fremont on July
4th, and settled on a farm five miles north of that place which
they occupied for nineteen years. The mother died there in 1873,
and the father six years later, the sons remaining on the original
homestead for several years.
Our subject was married there to Mary Hansen,
February 22, 1879, and she died in November of the same year. Mr.
Schow soon afterwards moved into Nance county remaining there for
nineteen years, then came into Howard county, arriving here on
March 13, 1902. He at once purchased one hundred and sixty acres
of land on sections seventeen and eighteen, township sixteen and
range eleven, and here he has succeeded in building up a good home
and farm, being classed among the well-to-do and progressive
farmers of his locality He now owns six hundred and forty acres,
all in the sections mentioned above except one quarter section in
section nine, township fifteen, range ten.
Mr. Schow was married the second time, in Nance
county, to Mary Nielsen, the event occurring on April 6, 1883. Mrs
Schow was born in Denmark, and came to America in 1881, settling
in Nance county, Nebraska, with her brother where she met the man
whom she later married. Mr. and Mrs. Schow have had ten children,
nine of whom were born in Nance county, and the other in Howard
county. They are named as follows: Mary, now deceased, Ana T.,
wife of Leonard Larson, John J., Andrew, Carrie L., Marie, Dora
B., Laura, Ernest M., and a son who died in infancy. They are a
fine family and have many friends in the community in which they
live.
Mr. Schow has served in different capacities in
his precinct, now being on the school board of district number
forty-three. Also, while living in Nance county, he held the
office of school treasurer for thirteen years.

MINGERSON
COOMBS.

Mingerson
Coombs is one of the leading business men of Ord an is also one of
the best known pioneers of Valley county. He was born in Knox
county, Maine, on the 26th of March, 1845, and was the third of
eight children born to Archibald and Harriet Newell Coombs. When
he was only fourteen years of age, the family moved to LaPorte
county, Indiana, where he worked on his father's farm until he had
attained his majority.
When Mr. Coombs became of age, he opened a store
in New Carlisle, Indiana, and enjoyed a fair success there. In
1869, he moved to Berrien county, Michigan, where he bought a
fruit farm. However, in 1873, he had an opportunity to dispose of
the fruit farm at considerable advantage, so he sold it and came
directly to Valley county, Nebraska, where he located a homestead
and timber claim. It is a matter of gratification to Mr. Coombs
that he succeeded in accomplishing here what few others did-taking
a claim under the original timber act, which required the actual
planting and cultivation of forty acres of timber. Mr. Coombs met
with success with his efforts, many of the trees now standing
being three feet in diameter and one on the place is over twelve
feet in circumference.
Mr. Coombs was engaged in farming for years, and
of course, met with all the discouragements which caused so many
to become "quitters." However, he stayed with the county until
Nebraska has lived down the bad reputation given it in the early
years. He has always had much to do with public affairs and at
different times filled the office of county commissioner, county
surveyor, county superintendent of schools, and mayor of Ord. This
alone shows in what light he is regarded by the people. He is now
engaged in mercantile business in Ord, and is one of the most
prosperous men of the community.
For nine years after coming to Valley county,
Mr. Coombs was known as the "bachelor homesteader." His father and
mother, however, came eventually to Valley county, and lived there
for the rest of their lives, both living to a ripe old age. In
1882, Mr. Coombs was married to Miss Nellie Rowell in Creston,
Iowa. Two children have been born to them, only one, Archibald K.,
now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Coombs have always been
closely

254

COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

identified with the
social life of Valley county, and have rendered great aid in the
development of education in the community.

T. C. OSTREM.

In this
volume is given the life history of many of the foremost citizens
of the state of Nebraska, and none holds a higher place in the
annals of the region than the gentleman whose name heads this
review. Mr. Ostrem is one of the prominent early settlers of
Madison county, has spent in all about twenty-five years in this
region, and during that time has accumulated a fine property by
dint of thrift, economy and perseverance, and also has done a
great deal towards advancing the best interests of that part of
the state.
T. C. Ostrem comes from the country that has
given to us so many of the brave and sturdy settlers, and
possesses all the best traits of his Norwegian ancestors. He first
saw the light on July 2, 1870, and was the ninth in a family of
nine children born to Goodman and Caroline Ostrem.
When only seventeen years of age, our subject
left his native land and came alone to America, where he was told
that plenty of cheap land was to be had for those who were willing
to work for it. He crossed the sea as an emigrant, and on landing
in New York made arrangements to proceed at once to Nebraska,
arriving in Madison county in the month of April, 1887, working
out on different ranches for several years. In 1892 he purchased
some land in Boone county, and spent two years in farming it, then
traded the property for the farm which he now occupies, situated
on section seventeen, township twenty-one, range four. This he has
transformed into a fine place, having a complete set of
substantial buildings, including a handsome residence, and is
classed as one of the wealthy men of his locality, his farm
comprising three hundred and twenty acres.
Mr. Ostrem was united in marriage to Miss Lettie
Simonson, who was born and reared in six children, named as
follows: Casper, Amanda, Norway. She died in 1905, leaving a
family of Gustave, Berntena, Gerhart and Benjamin.
In 1907 Mr. Ostrem was married to Miss Ingeborg
Bargo, to whom one child has been born, but died in
infancy.

JOHN C.
KELLOGG.

John C.
Kellogg. born in Lake county, Illinois, January 15, 1846, was the
third of six children born to Asahel and Eunice (Heald) Kellogg.
John C., the subject of this sketch, lived here on the Illinois
farm until he was then about twenty years of age. He then went
east, living in the state of New Jersey for about eighteen months
during 1866 and 1867, afterwards returning again to the Illinois
home.
About April, 1869, John Kellogg, with Cornelius
Benson, and Alza and Edwin Stewart, left Lake county for Columbus,
Nebraska. They purchased horses, wagons, household goods, etc.,
and loaded one car, coming by rail to Council Bluffs. Here they
unloaded and were ferried across the river and from Omaha to
Columbus, going by the overland route with their teams. Upon
reaching the river at Columbus, they discovered that there was no
wagon bridge at this point. However, they succeeded in running the
wagons across the railroad bridge by hand and swam the horses
across. This expedient saved them the railroad charge of $20.00
from Columbus to Duncan, which meant a great deal to them at this
particular time.
Daniel Benson and family, who were from the same
locality in Illinois, joined them at Columbus. Mr. Kellogg took a
pre-emption claim in Platte county, but in the latter part of
August, 1871, he, in company with Alonzo Shepherd, Alza Stewart
and S. C. Scott, came to the North Loup river valley, taking
homesteads near what are now the towns of North Loup and Scotia.
They all located their claims on the east side of the river, in
Greeley county, which at that time was not yet organized, Mr.
Kellogg taking his land in sections twenty-nine and thirty-two,
township eighteen, range twelve, most of it lying along the
river.
Mr. Kellogg returned to Platte county, but in
the spring of the following year he took up his permanent
residence on the North Loup homestead. This original homestead
remained his bachelor home until September, 1878, when his father
and sister came to Greeley county, taking up their homestead on
section thirty-two, township twelve, range eighteen. His mother
had died in Illinois in 1869 but his father lived until 1896 on
the Nebraska farm.
After the arrival of Mr. Kellogg's father and
sister, he made his home with them until his own marriage on
January 30, 1879, to Miss Belle Scott, daughter of Samuel C. and
Caroline (Raydure) Scott. It will be recalled that Mr. Scott came
to Greeley county in 1871 while Mr. Benson came in 1869.
Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg took up their residence on
the Asahel Kellogg Farm, and they still reside there. This farm is
now owned by Mr. Kellogg and his own homestead adjoins it.
Mr. Kellogg passed successfully through the
hardships of the early pioneer history of Nebraska. The struggle
for many years was a severe one, requiring a strong determination
and much hard work to overcome the adverse circumstances. Mr.
Kellogg was one of the very few who stayed on the old homestead
through the years of adversity. He now has over seven hundred
acres of land, a fine, comfortable home, an usually well-equipped
grain and stock farm, and is reckoned one of the most successful
and